Roof and wall panel system

ABSTRACT

A panel system of structural foam modules for finish covering and weatherproofing roofs and exterior walls. The panels are fastened to sheathing or furring strips with concealed screw shank nails and structural adhesives. The modules are mechanically interlocked with a tongue and groove and rabbeted fastening step connection. A separate flat reinforcing bar is internally interleafed in the interstice of the tongue and groove joint. The use fo the bar is optional. A vertical joint divider acts as a joint cover. The divider includes a batten plate projecting integrally from a thin transverse body which is shaped like the panel module itself and is locked into the mating contours of the panel joints. Panel backs are flat but panel faces are inclined to provide an overhanging lower interlocking edge to secure and protect not only the joints below, but also the top edge of the batten plate of the vertical joint divider. For weatherproofing, all vertical and horizontal joints are sealed with plastic adhesives during assembly. The panels have a constant cross-sectional shape and therefor may be trimmed or shortened at either end without violating the integrity of their joints. The panel modules have an opening traversing their lengthwise dimension; in the assembled wall the openings form continuous internal passageways for wiring, piping, or other line services.

United States Patent [1 1 Kapitan July 22, 1975 1 1 ROOF AND WALL PANELSYSTEM {76] Inventor: John R. Kapitan, 9882 W. Kentucky Dr.. Lakewood.Colo. 80226 221 Filed: July 9, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 377,362

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.480.283 1/1924 Meyer52/541 2.1831190 1/1940 Young 52/459 2,231.006 2/1941 Harshhergcr 52/5392.522.067 9/1950 Sperry 52/420 2.620.519 12/1952 Engclbach 52/5412.897.930 8/1959 Primich 52/468 3.217.453 11/1965 Medow... 52/5393.740.909 6/1973 Stinncs 52/595 3.760.546 9/1973 Martin 52/468 3.789.5562/1974 Skinner 52/539 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 204.487 10/1923United Kingdom 52/468 576.161 3/1924 France 52/436 221.279 4/1910Germany. 52/468 496.608 7/1954 ltaly 52/541 Primary Examiner-Ernest R.Purser Assistant Examiner-H. E. Raduazo Almrney, Agent. or FirmWheeler.Morsell, House & Fuller [57] ABSTRACT A panel system of structural foammodules for finish covering and weatherproofing roofs and exteriorwalls. The panels are fastened to sheathing or furring strips withconcealed screw shank nails and structural adhesives. The modules aremechanically interlocked with a tongue and groove and rabbeted fasteningstep connection. A separate flat reinforcing bar is internallyinterleafed in the interstice of the tongue and groove joint. The use fothe bar is optional. A vertical joint divider acts as a joint cover. Thedivider includes a batten plate projecting integrally from a thintransverse body which is shaped like the panel module it self and islocked into the mating contours of the panel joints. Panel backs areflat but panel faces are inclined to provide an overhanging lowerinterlocking edge to secure and protect not only the joints below. butalso the top edge of the batten plate of the vertical joint divider. Forweatherproofing, all vertical and horizontal joints are sealed withplastic adhesives during assembly. The panels have a constantcrosssectional shape and therefor may be trimmed or shortened at eitherend without violating the integrity of their joints. The panel moduleshave an opening traversing their lengthwise dimension; in the assembledwall the openings form continuous internal passageways for wiring,piping, or other line services.

8 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures SHEEI PATENTED JUL 2 2 1 .1 mr lWAK 6 r/////////////////\A \uh/ W ////////WV/N MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II PATENTED JUL 2 2 I975SHEET PATENTEDJUL22|915 3 895 469 Fig.10

ROOF AND WALL PANEL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION More buildingcomponents and subassemblies are needed which are based on the use ofplastics-asplastics and not simply on the use of plastics as imitationsof customary building materials. New plastic products that fully utilizeman-made structural thermoplastic and thermoset materials can help raiseaccepted construction procedures to a higher level. help pre serve ourwood supply. and reduce construction costs. The new plastics buildingmaterials and assemblies now produced are not necessarily representativeof inferior low-cost housing. but are in most instances a superior meansfor providing rapid. efficient. factory production reliability forindustrial. commercial. and residential construction.

Exterior roof and wall coverings utilizing thermoplastic and thermosetstructural foams are useful in building construction especially becauseof their built-in insulating values. Substantial loss of heat or coolingtakes place through the roofs and walls of buildings which are heatedabove or cooled below the temperature of the outside air and the rate ofloss depends. other factors being constant. on the conductivity of theroof or wall material. The roofand \vall panel of this invention isdirected to the improved use of structural foams for roof and wallcoverings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The roof and wall panel system of thisinvention includes a horizontally interlocking panel module and aseparate joint divider which protectively covers the vertical joints. Asthe panels are assembled. weatherproofjoints are formed along allvertical and horizontal junctures. The upper horizontal panel edges arerah bcted and grooved to fit into the complementary contours of theirlower horizontal edges. In juncture. the horizontally rabbeted stepjoint has the double purpose of providing a concealed fastening step anda weatherproofing joint which is additional to the horizontal tongue andgroove joint. The joint divider has a batten plate cover which isintegral with the dividers panelconformed body. Panel back and dividerback are llat for flush installation against sheathing or furring. Panelface and divider face. however. have a downwardly sloping front profilefor providing an overhanging and notched lower edge to protect thehorizontal joints below. The horizontal edges of both panel and dividerthus have the same symmetrical disposition. As tops and bottoms aretitted edge to edge. the panels and dividers are securely joined andoverlapped by their mat ing contours. The components of the roof andwall panel system are made of rigid structural foam thermoplastic orthermoset plastics of appropriate densities. The basic rectangular panelmodule has an opening coursing through its lengthwise dimension. In theassembled roof or wall covering. the openings within the panel modulesform continuous passageways for wiring. piping. and other services.

A separate metal reinforcing bar is provided to span two or more modulesand to bridge the joints between them. This flat rectangular bar may beused selectively for reinforcing stress areas. The bar is positioned andconcealed between the planar faces of the horizontal tongue and groo\ejoint. When the reinforcing bar is not used. a longitudinal space isleft vacant within the horizontal tongue and groove joint withoutdetracting from the joint integrity.

The panel modules are attached to adjacent structure with self-tappingscrews. screw shank nails. or adhesive 5 bonding. The interlockingvertical and horizontal joints are also adhesively sealed duringassembly to provide effective protection against the entrance or escapeof moisture and air. Because it has a constant crosssectional shape. thepanel module may be trimmed or shortened by cutting at either endwithout affecting the joint integrity.

The roof and wall panel system further includes ausiliary panels in theform of outside corners. inside corners. shallow flat-bottom mountingbases. and edging l5 caps.

A modified embodiment of the vertical joint divider is provided by avertical flush joint cover comprising an L-shaped flat strip that fitsunder the overhanging edge of the upper adjacent panel module andencompasses the overhanging edge of the lower adjacent panel module asthe cover is placed over the top ofa vertical joint between two panelmodules to seal it against the weather. The flat joint cover is retainedin place by a clamping action at the top and bottom frontal edges of theadjacent panels and may be permanently secured with adhesive bonding.Like the vertical joint divider. the flush joint cover will protect avertical joint wherever it may fall along a horizontal course becauseofthe continuous protective feature of the coacting. outwardlyprojecting panel edges.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a lightweight butstructurally strong and weatherproof roof and wall covering ofstructurcal foam panels that can be assembled quickly at the job siteand that may be used equally well for roofs and walls.

It is another object to provide a lightweight roof and wall coveringthat is especially resistant to high winds because of its improvedinterlocking and fastening systern.

It is another object to provide a roof and wall covering that provideseffective insulation at the joints against air and moisture penetration.

It is another object to provide a lightweight roof and wall coveringwith a stress resistant unity which will allow the use of buildingstructures with lighter weight beams. columns. and framing members.

The aforementioned objects and further objects. ad vantages. and detailsof the invention will be more clearly perceived from the followingspecifications of preferred embodiments of the invention and relateddrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roof andwall panel with inclined face. a vertical joint divider. and arectangular reinforcing bar. The figure further illustrates the panel'serection and self-positioning features in con junction with the nestsucceeding panels.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vertical joint divider seen from therear.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical cross section taken through a segment ofan erected roofor wall panel covering and showing the continuoushorizontal joints cf fected by a vertical joint divider fitted betweenadjacent panel modules. Also shown is the axially concealed metal barreinforcing the stacked units and their interlocking joints and theunoccupied space that oc- (ill cars within the tongue and groove jointwhen a reinforcing bar is not used.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical cross section similar to FIG. 3 butshowing adjacent upper and lower panel modules.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a 90degree inside corner module.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 showing a 90-degrecoutside corner module.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two sections of a pcrimeter channel base(mounting base) connected by a truncated vertical joint divider.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a perimeter channel base similar to FIG.7 but in the form of a )(I-degree outside corner.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a perimeter edging cap.

FIG. III is a front elevation of a wall or roofcovering constructed outof the roof and wall panel.

FIG. II is a perspective view of a vertical flush joint cover as seenfrom the rear.

FIG. I2 is a perspective view of two roof and wall panel modules buttedtogether end to end. forming a flush vertical joint. The figure alsoshows the weathen proofing of the joint by an installed flush jointcover. including its lower edge coupling.

FIG. I3 is a transverse vertical cross section taken through a segmentof an erected roof and wall panel covering. showing adjacent upper andlower panel modules and their continuous horizontal joints. The fig arefurther shows a vertical flush joint cover clamped under the upperoverhanging edge and over the lower overhanging edge of adjacent panels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although the disclosure hereofis detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention. the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplifythe invention which may be embodied in other physical structure. Thescope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

Like parts are given the same reference characters in the several views.

Based on the 4inch unit of measurement and multiples of this unit toconform with established building material sizes. a suitable set ofdimensions for the panel module of this invention may be 24 inches wide.I2 inches high. with 3 inches at the top thickness and 3% inches at thebottom. All components of the roof and wall panel system are preferablymolded out ofintegral solid skin structural foam plastics such aspolyurethane rigid foam. impact grades of polystyrene foam. andpolypropylene rigid foam. Use of the same material for both panel Illand the vertical joint divider 20 will insure that all units have closeto the same coefficient of expansion to avoid problems caused by thermalcycling. The structural foams have a solid skin separated by a rigidlow-density cellular core. By virtue of their closed-cell structure. thecommercially available structural foams have permanent resistance towater penetration and retain their high insulation value indefinitely.They also have other qualities desired in roof and wall constructionmaterials. for example. high compressive strength. the capacity towithstand exposure to heat and cold, non-attraction to vermin. termites.bacteria. or insect pests. and ready availability in (all aself-extinguishing lire-protective rating. Different densities ofstructural foam may be specified. from about 2 pounds to 50 pounds percubic foot. depending on the rigidity and strength required in aparticular application.

The panel module and other components of the roof and wall system may bemolded as individual parts on conventional structural foam moldingmachines. Because of its uninterrupted longitudinal configuration. thebasic panel module It) also may be fabricated by extrusion rather thanby the individual closedmold process. In the former case. the panelmodule I may be fabricated on commercially available structural foamextrusion equipment to be subsequently cut into selected unit lengths.

As depicted in the drawings. the roof and wall panel may be molded orextruded with or without rectangular axial openings 6i. Hollow panelsare preferred because of the advantages obtained from the resultinglighter weight. material savings. and the use of the rectangularopenings 61 as concealed wall or roof passageways for piping. wiring.and various service lines.

As shown in FIG. I. positive weatherproof tongue and groove joints 30combined with rabbetcd step joints 34 overlap and interlock both theupper and lower horizontal edges of the basic panel I0. For augmentingthe security of the horizontal joints. the outer face surface of thebasic panel III slopes downward diagonally to form an overhanging edgethat protects its lower horizontal edges. During the installation of aroof or wall covering. adjoining panels II) are positioned andinterlocked horizontally by the mating tongue and groove joints 30 andrabbetcd step joints 34 on their upper and lower edges. In particular.the rabbetcd step joint 34 is composed ofa longitudinal recess 35 cutoutat the lower rear of the panel module Ill and a complementary raisedfastening step 36 projecting upward from the upper rear of the panelmodule I0. As illustratcd in the drawings the raised edge provides asupport or nailing step 36 for securing the panel module II] to adjacentstructure. The next succeeding panel in the layer above overlays andinterlocks the horizontal joints below and thereby conceals themechanical fasteners. The panels may be attached to adjacent struc tureby adhesive bonding of their flat backside or inner surface I2 or bynails in the raised nailing edge 60 (FIG. As each layer of panels isstrung out. a verti cal joint divider is set against the end surface I3(FIG. I ofeach panel Ill. The vertical joint divider 20 includes abatten plate 21 (FIG. I) integrally projecting at right angles from thedividers thin body 22 whose transverse shape conforms in every detailwith the pan els cross sectional shape.

The laterally extended face plate or batten plate 21 on each side of thejoint divider. in covering a vertical joint. may overlap by a narrow orwide margin depending on the degree ofjoint protection required. A widerbatten plate would increase the sealing area to insure a greater degreeof airtight and water-tight surface covering.

As shown in FIGS. I. 2 and 3. a vertical joint divider 20 contactsadjoining panels and is retained in place in the wall or roof assemblyby the horizontal tongue and groove joints and rabbetcd step joints atthe upper and lower edges ofeach layer of installed panels. As two panelend surfaces are abutted against the vertical joint divider 20, thevertical joints thus formed are protected by the integral batten plate2] which extends laterally from each side of the divider 20 to cover the\ertical joints on the underside. Further. the panel 10 is equipped atits lower horizontal frontal edge with an elongated notch 37 forsecuring the vulnerable top horizontal edge of the batten plate Zl.Because the panels H) are mounted with breaking joints. the installedvertical joint divider 20 normally falls at the midpoint ofthe panel 10in the layer above and at the midpoint of the panel in the layer below.The elongated notch 37. however. covers and protects the top edge of thebatten plate 2l wherever it may be positioned. As the panel in thesucceeding layer above is set in. it fits over and covers the top edgeof the batten plate 2| below it for an effective vertical joint sealagainst the weather. The flat vertical end surfaces 13 (FIG. 1 l of twoadjoining panels It) are thus provided with joint protection at theirpoint of contact with the joint divider 20. FIGS. 3 and 4 show atransverse vertical cross-sectional view taken through a segment of anassembled roof or wall panel covering embodying this invention. Thefigures illustrate that the notched lower edge 37 of the panels inclinedfront profile l l provides a protective cover to the underlying top edgeof the batten plate 2l regardless of the order in which the basic panelmodules [0 and the vertical joint dividers may fall.

The tongue and groove joints 30 are reinforced with a separate.intcrlcafcd. solid. elongated flat metal bar that sits astridc two ormore panel modules 10 and bridges the vertical joint betweenhorizontally adjoining units to provide a stress-resistant brace. Asshown in FIGS. l. 3 and 4. the longitudinal groove 32 of the tongue andgroove joint is twice the depth required to accommodate the matingtongue 3]. The other half ofthe groove's depth may be used to house andconceal the flat rectangular reinforcing bar 25. The use of thereinforcing bar 25 is optional. Where it is not required or installed.the unused half-depth 33 in the groove 32 remains as a \acant space. asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The bar 25 may also be fabricated of lighterweight structural grade material such as an epoxy-impregnated fiberglasslaminated strip.

Either mechanical fasteners or adhesive bonding or both means offastening may be employed to secure the roof and wall panels directly tosheathing or l'urring strips. Panels molded of structural foam can beassem bled by the same techniques as that used for wood by virtue of thestructural foam's good nail and screw holding power. For mechanicalfastening. selftapping screws or screw shank nails are desirablyselected. Fastening with adhcsi c bonding alone permits a more uniformdistribution of stresses through the assembled panel area. In mostinstances mechanical fastening will not be needed if proper structuraladhesives are used which are capable of uniting panel and adjacentstructure by surface attachment. The usual hand-operated or power-drivewoodworking tool may be used on the job for fitting the structural foampanels around vents and projections.

Although the roof and wall covering herein disclosed will be stronglyresistant to wind stresses. it will not be air and moisture proofwithout the application of adhesi\c bonding between all assembly joints.By reason of their tight jointing. the unsealed panel joints will proidea strong barrier to the movement of air and moisture. Adhesive bonding.however. will desirably provide positive protection in this respect. Thechoice of adhesives to be used will also affect the joint efficiency.For example. a resilient adhesive bond will additionally help toaccommodate for differential movement due to thermal expansion andcontraction of the building structure or through deflection of floor orceiling under loading. Many types and grades of adhesives arecommercially available. With proper selection of the adhesive forover-all assembly and joint sealing. the molded structural foam panelscan be bonded together for maximum insulation values.

The roof and wall panel [0 may be initially installed over a shallowflat-bottomed perimeter mounting base 40 (FIG. 7). The top edge ofthemounting base 40 has the same tongue and groove configuration and dimen'sions as that of the top edge of the panel module [0. The base may be inthe pattern of a straight longitudinal section 40 or a 9(l-degree angledcorner 4] (FIGS. 7. 8). The mounting base is desirably installed withstructural adhesives over projected wall lines or roof edges. Flat orshed. gable. and gambrel type roofs. that is roofs with sloping sideswithout valleys or hips. are most suitably covered with the roof andwall panel. The roof surface. however. should have a minimum slope ofabout an inch per foot to obtain positive drainage. The mounting bases40 are joined vertically in the same manner as the panel modules 10. Thevertical joint divider 20. for this purpose. is truncated to bring it toa height equivalent to that of the base 40. As illustrated in FIG. 7,the truncated joint divider 23 has an integral batten plate 24 and thesame function as that of the pa nel-size version.

The panel module 10 also may be fabricated in the angled shape of aMl-degree outside corner 50 and a Ml-degree inside corner 51 (FIGS. 5, 6The horizontal edge joints of these corner pieces are exactly the sameas those of the basic panel module Hi. The installation of the cornershapes as a wall covering is similar to that of the basic panel 10. Byeliminating exposed corner joints. the corner shapes 50. 51 providepositive weatherproof corners. assure a clean appearance. and simplifythe installation procedures. The basic panel 10 also may be molded tofit around acute angles. obtuse angles. and curves (not shown). Aperimeter edging cap 42. shown in FIG. 9. is also provided for use inbringing the top layer of assembled panel modules [0 to a flat surface.The bottom edge of the edging cap 42 has the same joint configurationand dimensions as that of the bottom edge of the panel module 10.

FIG. 10 shows the appearance of a fragment of the assembled roof andwall panel covering. The outer roof or wall surface shows an unclutteredappearance because the fastenings are concealed. The batten plate 2|surface projections. in marking the vertical panel joints. add heft toemphasize strong architectural shadow lines.

FIGS. ll-l3 illustrate a modified embodiment of the vertical jointdivider. ln this version. a flat. L-shaped flush joint cover with aflanged lower edge 8| provides weatherprooling for the vertical joint 82between horizontally adjacent panel modules 10. Because the flush joint80 may be installed after the panel modules [0 have been erected into aroof or wall covering. it is feasible to use either a top-to-bottom or abottom-totop assembly procedure.

In the use of the vertical joint divider 20. two panel end surfaces areabuttcd against opposite sides of the vertical joint divider 20 to closethe vertical joint be- 7 tween horizontally adjoining panels modules. Inusing the flush joint cover 82. however. two panel end surfaces areabutted flush against each other. The resulting vertical joint 82 isthen weatherproofed b the Hush joint cover 80 by l) fitting the flangedcoupling 81 of the cover's bottom into the notch 37 formed it the loweroverhanging edge of the installed panel l0. and (2) sliding the flushjoint cover 80 upward until it is clamped by the lower overhanging edgeof the upper adjacent panel ltl. Both bottom and top of the Hush jointcover till are thus mechanically clamped into place. B coating anadhesive on the back side of the flush joint cover 80 before clamping itinto place. a permenent weatherproof vertical joint will be achieved.H0. 13 shows the flush joint cover 80 clamped in place between theoverhanging edges of adjacent panel modules Hi.

What is claimed is:

l. A structural panel system comprising a pluralit of structural moduleseach having an upper edge. a lower edge. two opposed side edges. aninner surface. and an outer surface. the upper edge and lower edge ofeach module being shaped to provide a tongue and groove joint b whichthe lower edge of each module may be interfitted with the upper edge ofthe module immediately below it. and the inner surface of each moduleadjacent to the upper and lower edges thereof being shaped to provide arabbeted step joint including a raised step projecting above the upperedge of the mod ale and a recess above the lower edge of said module.said recess being shaped to receive the raised step of the moduleimmediately below it. whercbv each module may be attached to a memberadjacent the inner surface of said raised step and the attachment meansmay be covered by the module immediately above said raised step. and avertical joint divider between adjacent modules. said divider beingshaped to match the crosssectional shape of said modules including saidtongue and groove joint and rahbeted step joint (ill 8 whereby saidvertical joint divider will interlock with modules above and below saiddivider said divider having a batten joined at a right angle to thefront of the divider and overlapping the edges of adjacent modules toprevent water from entering the vertical joint between said adjacentmodules.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 and further comprising areinforcing bar dimensioned to fit within the groove of said tongue andgroove joint. the groove of said tongue and groove joint being deeperthan the tongue thereof by a depth at least equal to the depth of saidreinforcing bar.

3. The combination defined in claim I wherein the outer surface of eachmodule adjacent the lower edge thereof is shaped to overhang the upperedge of the module immediately below it.

4. The combination defined in claim I wherein the front surface of eachmodule adjacent the lower edge thereof is shaped to overlap the upperedge of any vertical joint dividers immediately below said module toprevent water from entering the vertical joints covered thereby.

5. The combination defined in claim I wherein each of said modules hasat least one internal opening therein extending between the two sideedges thereof.

6. The combination defined in claim I wherein each of said modules hasat least one internal opening therein extending between the two sideedges thereof. and wherein each of said vertical joint dividers has atleast one opening in the bod v portion thereof positioned to match theopenings of the adjacent modules.

7. The combination defined in claim I wherein each of said modules ismade of foamed plastic material and wherein the vertical and horizontaljoints between adjacent modules are sealed by plastic cement.

8. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional shapeof each module is the same at any point between the two side edgesthereof.

1. A structural panel system comprising a plurality of structuralmodules each having an upper edge, a lower edge, two opposed side edges,an inner surface, and an outer surface, the upper edge and lower edge ofeach module being shaped to provide a tongue and grOove joint by whichthe lower edge of each module may be interfitted with the upper edge ofthe module immediately below it, and the inner surface of each moduleadjacent to the upper and lower edges thereof being shaped to provide arabbeted step joint including a raised step projecting above the upperedge of the module and a recess above the lower edge of said module,said recess being shaped to receive the raised step of the moduleimmediately below it, whereby each module may be attached to a memberadjacent the inner surface of said raised step and the attachment meansmay be covered by the module immediately above said raised step, and avertical joint divider between adjacent modules, said divider beingshaped to match the crosssectional shape of said modules including saidtongue and groove joint and rabbeted step joint whereby said verticaljoint divider will interlock with modules above and below said divider,said divider having a batten joined at a right angle to the front of thedivider and overlapping the edges of adjacent modules to prevent waterfrom entering the vertical joint between said adjacent modules.
 2. Thecombination defined in claim 1 and further comprising a reinforcing bardimensioned to fit within the groove of said tongue and groove joint,the groove of said tongue and groove joint being deeper than the tonguethereof by a depth at least equal to the depth of said reinforcing bar.3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the outer surface of eachmodule adjacent the lower edge thereof is shaped to overhang the upperedge of the module immediately below it.
 4. The combination defined inclaim 1 wherein the front surface of each module adjacent the lower edgethereof is shaped to overlap the upper edge of any vertical jointdividers immediately below said module to prevent water from enteringthe vertical joints covered thereby.
 5. The combination defined in claim1 wherein each of said modules has at least one internal opening thereinextending between the two side edges thereof.
 6. The combination definedin claim 1 wherein each of said modules has at least one internalopening therein extending between the two side edges thereof, andwherein each of said vertical joint dividers has at least one opening inthe body portion thereof positioned to match the openings of theadjacent modules.
 7. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein each ofsaid modules is made of foamed plastic material and wherein the verticaland horizontal joints between adjacent modules are sealed by plasticcement.
 8. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein thecross-sectional shape of each module is the same at any point betweenthe two side edges thereof.